Energy Conservation

Benefits of Energy Conservation

Cost Savings

By reducing the amount of energy we use, we can significantly cut back on district spending. This means that more of the money gets spent on things that we really care about: programs for schools, new equipment…you get the idea.

Imagine

More money for teachers and staff

More education and development programs

New equipment

Environment

Every time we switch on a light, or make a cup of coffee, we use energy. Every time we use energy, we release Carbon Dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. CO2 is one of the main gases that contribute to Global Warming, which is a big threat to the planet, not only because it puts us in the hot seat, but because it causes a greater incidence of floods, storms and drought! For more info, go to the EPA Website.

By example, we can teach our future generation to preserve our natural resources. Energy is a very precious resource and right now, most of our sources of energy are from non-renewable fossil fuels. By using energy wisely, we can better provide for our children, as well as teach them to see the “bigger picture”. For more information on fossil fuels, go to this energy website.

Energy Conservation Tips

Think you’re too small to make a difference? Think again! By keeping energy management in your minds at all times, the savings really add up! (District employees may visit the District intranet site to see what kind of savings you can achieve!)

Here is some good information, and some great ideas to get you started at your building!

Thermostats

There are many varieties of thermostats throughout the District, some that are programmable and some that are not. Most are digital/programmable type which allows us to program them to heat your room a little before you arrive, and automatically turn it off a half hour after school gets out. You can override this programming if you are working before or after these hours, and give you a comfortable work environment while you are there. There are some thermostats that cannot be converted to programmable types at this time; however we are still researching other alternatives. Until that time, we ask that you please manually set back (to 55 degrees) or turn off your thermostat.

Lights

Turn them off! You can increase the length of time between lamp replacements significantly by turning off your lights! Sounds simple enough, yet it is easy to forget. Remind yourself, and others to do this every time you think you will be away for more than 5 minutes.

Too much light can be just as uncomfortable and damaging as too little! The glare from too much light can cause headaches and fatigue. If you think you may have too much lighting in your office or classroom, give us a call. We may be able to reduce it to a more comfortable level, and help keep your room cooler (less heat from lamps)

Did you know that those little table lamps may use more energy that a fluorescent lamp? Most fluorescent lamps use less than 40 Watts, versus a 100 Watt incandescent. Consider compact fluorescent lamps for your table lights.

Computers

These are real energy hogs because not only do they use about 200 Watts per computer, but they generate a lot of heat and cause the air conditioners to work harder. Screen savers may save the screen, but it sure doesn’t save energy! Enabling the power management feature on your desktop can really reduce a lot of wasted energy, and protect your screen from damage.

For Mac:
OS 7.5 (and later) systems have two monitor energy-related control panels. Energy Saver 1.0 places an external ENERGY STAR-compliant monitor into sleep mode. The screen control panel can place an internal monitor into sleep mode. For Mac OS-9 and OS-X Website.

You can get many more years of use from your computer by turning it off at night – every night. In the past, this was not the case, but rapid advancements in technology and more accurate studies and reporting indicate that turning your computer off at night will prolong its useful life.

Myths and Facts

Many people have misconceptions about energy. Here are some common myths...and real facts!

MYTH: If I leave my computer on without using it, the screen saver will come on and that uses almost no energy at all.

FACT: This is NOT true! The screen saver does absolutely NOTHING to save energy. Please set your computer to “sleep” instead (see “So what can I do?” section).

MYTH: Fluorescent lights consume a lot of energy during startup, so they should be left on as much as possible and avoid frequent switching

FACT: Whereas this was true when fluorescents first became popular (1940s), the effect of frequent switching on modern lamp life is not as detrimental. In fact, according to the Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory, the lights need to be off for just one second before it compensates for that surge of starting current!

MYTH: The room will get cooler faster if the thermostat is set lower (50 to 60 degrees)

FACT: The room will cool down just as fast if the thermostat is set on 72 degrees. If the thermostat is set too low, the unit will freeze up and will not cool at all.

MYTH: The door should be left open while the heat or air conditioning is on, to help circulate the required amount of fresh outside air.

FACT: Most heating and air conditioning units in the District are designed to pull the required amount of outside air into the classroom, and circulate all the air through a filter. This will provide clean, fresh and conditioned air all the time. The door should be kept closed to allow this system to work properly, and prevent damage to the equipment due to excessive wear.